Bihar Voter List Revision: What is it and why has it sparked controversy?

A Special Intensive Revision (SIR) campaign of the voter list is going on in Bihar before the 2025 assembly elections, due to which politics is heated in the entire state. Let us understand what this process is and why the opposition parties are opposing it.

Patna: Ahead of the 2025 assembly elections in Bihar, a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) campaign of the voter list is going on, due to which politics is heated across the state. Let us understand what this process is and why the opposition parties are opposing it.

What is the Bihar Voter List Revision?

According to the Dynamite News correspondent, the Election Commission in Bihar issued a notification on 24 June 2025 and started the process of Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list. Its purpose is

• Updating the voter list
• Addition of new eligible voters
• Removing the names of dead or transferred people
• And verification on the basis of identity and documents.

In this process, Booth Level Officers (BLOs) are going door-to-door till July 25 to collect information, on the basis of which the draft voter list will be released on August 1. The time for objections and claims will be until September 1, and the final list will be published on September 30.

What is the reason for the controversy?

The 2003 voter list has to be made the basis. Those whose parents' names are in the 2003 voter list have to provide only their identity documents. But those whose parents' names are not in the 2003 list will have to provide additional documents, which is affecting a large number (about 2.93 crore people).

Difficult to collect documents

Many people in Bihar are not able to collect the necessary documents (date of birth, birthplace, etc.) on time due to economic, social, and geographical reasons. It is not possible for everyone to provide the proof by 26 July.

Allegation: Process like NRC?

Opposition parties say that this process is a "hidden attempt" to bring the National Register for Citizens (NRC). They say that people from poor, Dalit, Muslim, and tribal communities are being deliberately excluded from the list.

Process in a hurry

The opposition alleges that the Election Commission is doing this work in a hurry, due to which lakhs of real voters may be out of the list. Tejashwi Yadav has targeted this campaign by calling it “BJP and Nitish’s lapdog commission.”

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What is the Election Commission’s stand?

The commission says that this process is being done under the Representation of the People Act, 1950. The final authority to add names to the voter list lies with the ERO (Electoral Registration Officer), not directly with the Election Commission. It only gives instructions and a framework; policy decisions are taken by the ERO.

What will happen next?

BLOs will collect data from door to door till July 25. The draft list will be released on August 1. Claims and objections will be taken till September 1. The final list will be published on September 30.